Conrad Murray Trial: Guilty Doctor Not on Suicide Watch
Conrad Murray is not on suicide watch despite contrary reports claiming he was suicidal after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Murray, who is now a convicted felon, was immediately handcuffed and remanded into custody and although the Los Angeles Times reported the physician being under suicide watch, other sources have now contradicted those reports.
LA County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Cannon said Murray is not on suicide watch, and is being held in a cell with high security in order to protect his safety, according to news source KTLA.
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A stone-faced Murray was found guilty after nine hours of jury deliberations yesterday in the death of pop star Michael Jackson.
Although Murray's lawyer says his client is "devastated" by the outcome, an appeal will be filed after sentencing on Nov. 29 where he faces up to four years behind bars.
Lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff said, "What matters most right now is trying to keep Dr. Murray from taking up a prison cell in this community."
Murray's attorneys have been criticized by some news commentators for their apparent lack of preparation for yesterday's guilty verdict which some believe influenced the judge's decision to immediately place Murray in custody.
Judge Michael Pastor explained, "This is a crime in which the end result was the death of a human being. Public safety demands that he be remanded."
The case made international headlines, following the death of the world's biggest pop icon in June 2009.
Jackson died in his Los Angeles home, and according to the LA coroner's office he died from "acute propofol intoxication", which prosecutors argued was the fatal result of a lethal dose given by Murray.
Jackson's family is said to be pleased with the verdict. Brother Jermaine later spoke to reporters, "Nothing will bring him back, but I'm happy."
